DALI Mentor Menuet review

Titchy speakers that still sound great, these Menuets are something of a gem

For

Tiny in all but sound

an expressive, engaging listen

Against

Can’t cope with aggressive low frequencies like bigger rivals can

Reviewed on 5th July 2011

Even in a group of compact standmounters, the Dalis look frivolously small.

The cabinet is a smoothly curved affair, but there’s not much of it. And the mid/bass driver is just 10cm in diameter.

There’s nothing trivial about the way the Dalis go about their business though.

Timing, detail levels and frequency-range integration all impress, but it’s their sheer musicality that marks these out as five-star performers.

Adept at more-or-less anythingThey’re achingly articulate through the midrange, giving character and expression to instruments and voices alike, and are just as urgent or as soothing as is required.

More after the break

Add a frankly unlikely dynamism and considerable scale, and you’ve a speaker adept at more-or-less anything. They’ll even have a stab at shuddering basslines, though some port noise is audible under such sonic duress.

All the ‘quart/pint-pot’ and ‘midget gem’ clichés apply. If you want small speakers with full-size ability, here they are.